The Brilliance Bulletin - 11/07/25

Each week, this newsletter will share a variety of updates and information about The Genius School, including exciting highlights, upcoming events, and important announcements. Stay tuned to keep up with all the amazing things happening in our community!

Every year, right on schedule, the same pattern hits classrooms everywhere:

attendance drops, coughs linger, asthma flares, and children seem more tired and unfocused.

It’s not random — it’s biology. As daylight shortens and our routines move indoors, kids get less sunlight, more screen time, and more sugar. These small shifts quietly weaken the immune system and drain the nutrients that support focus, energy, and mood.

What many families don’t know is that Vitamin D — the “sunlight hormone” — plays a huge role in all of it. Research shows that Black and Brown children are especially at risk for low Vitamin D levels throughout the year, leading to higher rates of illness, inflammation, asthma, and attention difficulties.

The good news: this is preventable. Even simple changes — a little more outdoor time, whole-food meals with healthy fats, and asking your doctor to check Vitamin D levels — can make a real difference in your child’s health and learning this season.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6

At The Genius School, we believe foresight is the foundation of genius.

Learn More: Read the full blog with details and research → The Health Code, Part 1

We’ve heard your feedback, and we appreciate our families’ partnership in helping students look sharp and feel confident each day. To make things a little easier, we’ve updated our dress code — either hunter green or navy blue ties are now acceptable for all students.

Please remember that full uniform (including tie) is required daily, as it reflects our Genius standard of excellence and readiness to learn. Students not in proper dress code may be held out of class until the uniform is corrected, so please double-check each morning before heading to school. Thank you for continuing to support our shared commitment to excellence in every detail — from how we learn to how we show up.

We’re excited to invite all Genius families and extended family to join us for our annual Thanksgiving Fellowship — a cherished evening of gratitude, connection, and community.

This special event brings our Genius School Village together to share a meal, celebrate blessings, and enjoy meaningful fellowship with one another. All are welcome, but seating is limited and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please register soon to ensure your spot, as no one will be admitted without an RSVP. We can’t wait to gather as one family and give thanks together!

During Think Pink Week, our geniuses united to celebrate hope, raise awareness, and take action in support of breast cancer research. From pink-out spirit days and classroom discussions about courage and compassion to our spirited Penny War fundraiser, every moment reflected our commitment to learning with heart. Together, our Genius community raised nearly $600 — a powerful reminder that even small acts can create big impact.

Congratulations to Mr. Cassoday’s 4th–7th Grade Homeroom, this year’s Penny War Champions! Their teamwork, generosity, and enthusiasm inspired the entire school.

Thank you to every student, family, and staff member who joined us in honoring survivors, supporting fighters, and remembering those we’ve lost. Think Pink Week proved once again that when our village comes together, we don’t just wear pink — we live it through kindness, unity, and love.

We’re blasting off with excitement to celebrate two of our math geniuses — Ethan (4th Grade) and Ka’Moree (6th Grade) — for completing ALL of multiplication in Rocket Math!

Their hard work, focus, and dedication are out of this world, and they’re leading the way in showing what it means to practice with purpose and persevere toward mastery. Families, keep the momentum going! Regular flash card practice at home helps strengthen fluency and ensures every student continues making steady progress through Rocket Math. Let’s keep aiming high and cheering on all our mathematicians as they soar toward their next level of success!

In October, our Genius community focused on the Fruit of the Spirit: PEACE — showing calmness, kindness, and understanding even in challenging moments. Each of our Genius of the Month scholars demonstrated what true peace looks like in action, reminding us that peace isn’t the absence of chaos, but the presence of order, empathy, and love.

Meet our peaceful Geniuses of the Month:

• Asay – Kindergarten — Asay shows peace every day by staying calm and kind, even in challenging situations. He helps his friends solve problems and promotes harmony in his classroom.
• Dillian – 1st Grade — Dillian displays peace through her gentle demeanor and thoughtful interactions. She resolves issues with kindness and models respect for all.
• Sage – 4th Grade — Sage exemplifies peace through his calm and steady presence. He encourages his classmates to work together harmoniously and helps create an atmosphere where everyone feels supported and valued.
• Amaya – 7th Grade — Amaya demonstrates peace through her confident leadership and maturity. She fosters understanding among peers and leads with compassion and grace.
• Kyler – 7th Grade — Kyler promotes peace by listening carefully, helping others find common ground, and turning tense moments into opportunities for growth and cooperation.

Each of these scholars exemplifies what it means to lead with PEACE — reminding us that true strength lies in calm hearts and thoughtful actions. Congratulations to our October Geniuses of the Month!

Read more about our Peaceful Geniuses on The Genius School Blog → October Geniuses of the Month

• November 19 - Thanksgiving Fellowship
• November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• December 15 - 19 - NWEA MOY Benchmark Testing (K-7)
• December 15 - 19 - ILEARN Checkpoint 2 Testing (3-7)
• December 17 - Holiday Celebration (Details to come)
• December 19 - End of Quarter 2
• December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break (No School)

During Genius Conferences, families received their child’s Individualized Genius Plan (IGP)—a personalized roadmap designed to support each scholar’s academic growth and success. Together, we reviewed student data, celebrated areas of strength, and identified focus areas for continued improvement. Each IGP outlines the specific steps, supports, and goals that will guide your child’s learning this quarter.

All students received personalized flash cards to strengthen foundational skills in both reading and math. Students in grades 2–7 received math fact flash cards aligned to their current Rocket Math level. As students show mastery and move up in Rocket Math, they’ll be given new flash cards to match their next level of learning.

Every student also received a set of leveled sight word flash cards. Beginning with our incoming Pre-K scholars, our school-wide goal is for every student to know all 1,000 sight words by the end of 3rd grade. As students master their sight word sets, families should contact their child’s teacher or Mr. Cassoday to schedule an assessment at school. Once a student demonstrates mastery, they’ll receive a new set of words to continue growing.

We encourage families to practice flash cards nightly for just a few minutes—consistent, focused practice at home makes a powerful difference in building fluency, confidence, and long-term success!

Before fall break, our Genius Scholars in grades 3–7 completed their ILEARN Checkpoint 1 assessments. These results were shared during Genius Conferences as part of each student’s Individualized Genius Plans (IGPs).

Families, we ask for your continued partnership in supporting these goals at home. Please help your child work through their assigned IXL skills for about 20 minutes in ELA and 20 minutes in Math each day. Our team is tracking student progress and will reach out if additional support is needed. Remember, this is a true school–home partnership—your involvement makes a measurable difference in your child’s growth and confidence. At school, we’re continuing to provide targeted remediation while also beginning our preparation for Checkpoint 2. To ensure every scholar is fully prepared, consistent practice at home is key.

When your child completes their IXL skill plan, please contact Mr. Cassoday so your child can take Checkpoint 1 – Opportunity 2. This allows us to monitor growth and make sure each student is on track for success on the end-of-year ILEARN Summative Assessment.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to helping our Geniuses shine!

Thank you to all of our families for your attention to the updated dress code over the past few weeks — we’ve seen a big improvement as we start the year strong! That said, we still aren’t quite at 100%, and we need everyone’s help to ensure consistency. Please remember that Monday through Thursday students should be in white button-down shirts (not polos) with a tie or cross tie, and navy blue pants are required every day (not khaki). Following the dress code helps our scholars look sharp, feel confident, and stay focused on learning. We appreciate your partnership in making sure every student comes to school prepared and in full uniform each day.

• Monday through Thursday, students should be in dress uniform — this means a button-up shirt (not a polo) with a tie, and a cross tie for girls, along with navy pants every day.
• Friday is our regular uniform day. Dressing for success not only reflects our school pride but also helps create a focused learning environment.

As we settle into the school year, we’ve noticed an increase in common illnesses going around. To help keep our school community healthy, we are asking families to partner with us in taking extra precautions. Please remind your scholar about the importance of good hygiene habits such as regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding the sharing of food or drinks. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home to rest and recover — this helps prevent the spread of illness to others. Together, we can create a safe and healthy environment where all of our scholars can learn and thrive!

To help our days run smoothly, please note our arrival and dismissal procedures.

• Arrival is from 8:15 to 8:30 AM. Students arriving after 8:30 AM are considered late and must be walked into the building by the person dropping them off.
• Dismissal takes place from 3:30 to 3:45 PM.

A successful year starts with being prepared! If you haven’t had a chance to bring in your child’s school supplies yet, please send them in as soon as possible so our scholars have everything they need to learn and thrive. Having supplies in the classroom helps us start each day smoothly and keeps students ready for every activity. You can view and download the complete supply list here: Click for the Supply List. Thank you for your support in making sure our classrooms are well-equipped for a fantastic year!

Our student dress code can be found here.